Corn husker and sheller



- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. R. WHITING. CORN HUSKER AND SHELLEE.

No. 407,710. Patented July 23, 1889-.

-fi r j I {X iaguv/ 11/ a Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LR. WHITING. GORN HUSKBR AND $HELLER.

No. 407,710. Patented July 23, 1889.

N. PUERS. MB'LKWWG Washington, I): Q

(No Model.) 3 Sheets8fieef 3. L. R. WHITING.

CORN HUSKER AND SHELLER. Y No. 407,710. 4 Patented July 23, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS ROSSELL WVHITING, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

CORN HUSKER- AND SHELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,710, dated July 23,1889.

Serial No. 279.494. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS RossELL WHITING,

las, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Corn Huskers and Shellers, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in corn huskers and shellers; andit consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices,that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of a corn shucking and shelling machine embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken onthe line :0 0c of Fig. 1, longitudinally through the shellingcylinder.Fig. 3 is a top plan view-of the separator. Fig. 4 is a detail elevationof the rib-frame. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of theribs. Fig. 6 is a similar View of one of the cylinder-teeth. Fig. '7 isa detail perspective view of a part of one of the cylinder-heads.

A represents a rectangular vertical inclosing-case, which is provided onits upper side with an inlet-opening B. In one side of the case is adischarge-opening O, in the lower side of which is locateda horizontaldeliveryboard D.

E represents an inclined board, which is arranged in the opening 0.extends down into the inclosing-case, and projects outward therefrom.Near the outer end of the board D is a separator-frame F, which iscomposed of a series of parallel bars, and has its outer end secured ina transverse groove in the board E and its inner end similarly securedin the outer edge of the board D. In one side of the bottom of the caseis arranged aboard G, inclined in an opposite direction to the board E,and with its lower end somewhat below the lower end of the board E,thereby forming an opening H.

I represents a cylindrical case, which is located below the board G, andin the said case is journaled a rotary fan or blower K. The case I hasat its lower side an upwardly-inclined discharge-spout L, which isadapted to direct a blast of air from the fan or blower onto an inclinedboard M, which is arranged below and parallel with the boardE andopposite to the openings II.

N represents a shaft, which is arranged horizontally and journaled inthe sides of the case in the center. To this shaft is secured a cylinder0, which comprises apair of circular heads P, and bolt-rods R, whichconnect the said heads. Said rods are arranged parallel and concentricwith the shaft.

The heads P are provided on their inner sides, near their peripheries,with annular grooves or recesses S, in which are fitted the ends of aseries of concavo-convex plates T, which form the face of the cylinder.Each of the said plates is provided at one edge with a raised flange U,which overlaps the adjacent edge of the next adjoining plate, the saidflanges U having their outer edges or shoulders, which are presented inthe direction in which the cylinder rotates, beveled obliquely to formcutting-edges V. Across the flanges or teeth U, at suitable regulardistances, are made V-shaped grooves or notches- VV, which serve toserrate the flanges, and thereby increase their efficiency asabradingsurfaces.

To one end of the shaft Nis secured a large pulley X, which is connectedwith a pulley Y on the fan-shaft by means of an endless belt Z. To theopposite end of shaft N is secured a crank-arm A.

B represents a concave frame, the end walls 0 of which are secured onthe inner side of the inclosing-case and are arranged concentricallywith the cylinder. The said end walls C at their upper ends divergesomewhat from the, opposing sides of the cylinder, the said upper end ofthe end walls being arranged immediately to the rear of the opening B. Drepresents a pair of stationary ribs, which connect the upper ends ofthe end walls and are obtuse-angled in transverse section, as shown inFig. 1. The end walls 0 are provided near their outer edges with aseries of openings, in which are secured the ends of a series ofconnecting-rods E. At the inner edges of the sides 0 are formed flangesF, which are arranged concentric With and in proximity to the cylinder.

G represents a series of obtuse-angled ribs similar to the ribsD, andbear against the flanges F, the latter serving to prevent the ribs fromapproaching too near the face of the cylinder. The said ribs G aresupported in the rib-frame by means of arms H, which are pivoted on therods E, and have their outer ends riveted orbolted to the outer sides ofthe ribs,-as shown. By this means the ribs are pivotally arranged in therib-frame, and are adapted to swing toward and from the face of thecylinder.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the ribs G are arrangedat slight distances apart, so that spaces through which shelled corn maydrop are formed between them.

1 represents a series of spring-arms, which have their outer endspivoted on the rods E, and have their inner ends engaging the outersides of the ribs and retained between parallel flanges or offsets 1formed on said ribs. The function of these spring-arms is to normallykeep the ribs in contact with the flanges F and arranged in proximity tothe cylinder.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The ears of cornthat dropthrough the opening B in the case are partially crushed between therevolving cylinder and the stationary ribs D. As the ears of corn movewith the cylinder they are rotated against each of the spring-pressedribs in succession, the action of the said ribs and of the teeth of thecylinder serving to tear the shucks and the grains of corn from thecobs. The grains drop through the spaces between the springpressed ribsonto the inclined bottom boards E and G, and are delivered through theopen ing H onto the blast-board M, the blast of air from the fan servingto winnow the grains as they fall to the blast-board. The shucks andcobs are thrown by centrifugal force from the cylinder as they leave thespring-actuated ribs onto the separator F. The grains which may chanceto remain with the shucks and cobs fall through the bars of theseparator onto the board E and are discharged at the bottom of the case,as before stated, and the ping flanges U, and the clamping-boltssecuring the heads of the cylinder on the ends of the plates,substantially as described.

3. The combination of the rib-frame comprising the end walls O, havingthe flanges F, and the connecting-rods E, with the ribs G, obtuse-angledin cross-section and ar- 4 ranged at aslight distance apart between theend walls 0, the arms H, secured to the ribs and pivoted on the rods E,and the springs 1, bearing against the outer sides of the ribs andpressing the latter normally against the flanges F, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a corn-shelling machine, the rotating cylinder having theperipheral teeth, in combination with the end walls 0, having theflanges F, concentric with thecylinder, the rods E, connecting said endwalls, the arms H, pivoted on said rods, the ribs secured to the freeends of said arms and obtuse-angled in cross-section, and the springsbearing against the ribs and keeping the latter normally in contact withthe flanges F, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

. LOUIS ROSSELL WVHITING.

Witnesses:

J. WVELBORN JACK, ALEX. WHITE.

